Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: chanti

LITTLEST MANO At BEDTIME by Anita Dromey, Illustrated by Taranggana – Picture Books, Children’s Animal Stories, Children’s Bedtime Books

In Littlest Mano at Bedtime by Anita Dromey, illustrated by Taranggana, Mano wants to keep grazing and playing in the hills when his mamma calls him to come down to the shore.

The rest of the goats wait for Mano, who only comes when his mamma asks him to lead the group. But Mano trips in the evening darkness and loses his chance to lead the procession. Once he and all the other goats reach the ocean, he promises not to make them wait so long next time.

Littlest Mano at Bedtime is a great evening book for children learning to read.

Dromey writes in a consistent rhyming scheme, making the rhythm easy to grasp and read along with.

This story teaches the importance of listening and cooperating with others, and does so with a soft hand fitting for very young readers.

Mano’s mother speaks gently even as he insists on staying in the hills. She comforts him when he trips and keeps the other young goats from giving him too hard a time. Mano learns to temper his love for playing in the hills with the practical wisdom of his mom, who encourages him to try leading the herd again in the future.

Lintang Pandu, through her art studio Taranggana, colors vibrant and soothing landscapes through which the goats walk.

Her softly-shaded colors match the comforting tone of the story perfectly. Backgrounds start with the warm pastel tones of sunset highlighting Mano’s favorite verdant hills. As evening falls, the illustrations incorporate cool colors that fill the sea and night sky.

Along with its effectiveness as a bedtime book, Littlest Mano at Bedtime introduces young readers to a herd of uniquely-colored goats, giving children plenty to hold their attention.

With its nursery-rhyme writing and adorable goat characters, Littlest Mano at Bedtime will help children practice their reading skills and, like Mano, wind down for sleep.

June 9, 2025
V.C. Andrews – The Author that’s Still Publishing Forty Years After Her Passing

V.C. Andrews was trapped in an attic

And she created worlds of gothic horror

The gothic horror and paranormal fiction that V.C. Andrews pioneered continues to captivate readers today—and at Chanticleer, we know exactly what makes these dark, atmospheric stories work. That’s why our Shelley Awards (named for Mary Shelley, the Mother of Horror) celebrate the best in paranormal and horror fiction each year.

V.C. Andrews, born Cleo Virginia Andrews on June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, VA, faced a secluded life in her parent’s home, but that didn’t stop her from creating several series with unique characters and plots that will keep you up at night.

From Personal Struggle to Gothic Masterpiece

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews follows the lives of four children whose mother kept them imprisoned in an attic for years in order to collect an inheritance. Released in 1979, it became an instant sensation and led her to write four more books in the Dollanganger Family Series. Its dark themes of family strife and isolation reflected a similar scenario playing out in Andrews’ own life, and she used her experience to speak through the character Cathy Dollanganger, who narrates the story.

The dark tale of children kept locked away in an attic somewhat mirrored Andrews’ own life. Born the youngest child and only daughter of three children, she suffered a devastating fall from a stairwell at school as a teen. The accident required several surgeries and resulted in crippling arthritis that left her wheelchair bound and in the care of her mother for much of her life. Just as with many children, that close relationship with her emotionally distant mother, even as she fully supported her daughter’s writing career, proved difficult at times and, when her father passed away in 1957, Andrews used the commissions from her art sales to support her family.

The Fast-Paced Formula That Hooked Millions

Later in life, Andrews turned to writing, beginning with a science fiction novel in 1972 titled Gods of Green Mountain, which was published posthumously in 2004 as an ebook. In 1975, Andrews completed the manuscript for Flowers in the Attic in two weeks, only to have the novel returned with a note to “spice up” and expand the story. Published in 1979, it was an instant success, reaching the top of the bestseller lists in just two weeks. Andrews published a new novel every year after that, earning Andrews larger advances and a growing readership.

“I think I tell a whopping good story. And I don’t drift away from it a great deal into descriptive material,” she stated in Faces of Fear in 1985. “When I read, if a book doesn’t hold my interest in what’s going to happen next, I put it down and don’t finish it. So, I’m not going to let anybody put one of my books down and not finish it. My stuff is a very fast read.”

A Literary Legacy That Defies Death

V.C. Andrews wrote novels that combine Gothic horror and family saga, often revolving around family secrets and forbidden love. Her best-known novel, Flowers in the Attic, was the catalyst to a career that spanned decades, with stories exploring those same themes. Today, her fans have 104 books and 27 series that continue to enthrall readers and inspire Hollywood filmmakers.

After Andrews’s death from breast cancer in 1986, ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman was hired, initially, to complete two unfinished works, Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts that were published soon after. It’s these two novels that are considered the last novels to be almost completely written by Andrews herself, but many more books inspired by her writing and written by Neiderman continued to be published. Forty years later, Andrews’ literary legacy continues to grow, inspiring not only the ghostwriter who continues her stories, but also the many readers who have escaped into her world of family drama and isolation—making Andrews one of the most beloved modern horror writers today.

Gothic Art Meets Family Nightmares

When I think of Andrews’ novels, particularly Flowers in the Attic, I’m reminded of the famous artwork, American Gothic by Grant Wood—family dynamics painted with a nod to the type of horror that penetrates and unsettles the family dynamic. Surely, Andrews must have pulled from her own conflicted emotions about her family to create a novel that resonates with the love/hate relationships we all grapple with. — Dena Weigel

Happy Birthday to V.C. Andrews, an author whose legacy in horror extends beyond her life to entertain and unsettle readers for years to come!

Does Your Gothic Horror Deserve the Same Recognition?

The gothic horror and paranormal fiction that V.C. Andrews pioneered continues to captivate readers today—and at Chanticleer, we know exactly what makes these dark, atmospheric stories work. That’s why our Shelley Awards (named for Mary Shelley, the Mother of Horror) celebrate the best in paranormal and horror fiction each year.

If your horror novel carries themes of family secrets, supernatural elements, psychological terror, or gothic atmosphere like Andrews’ masterworks, the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) Shelley Division wants to discover it. Our judges understand the nuances that separate good horror from unforgettable horror—the kind that keeps readers turning pages late into the night.

You know you want it…

The 2025 Shelley deadline is June 30th—just weeks away! Whether your work explores paranormal romance, supernatural powers, unexplained phenomena, or psychological horror, professional recognition through the Shelley Awards gives your book the credibility boost that social media alone cannot provide.

For suspense and thriller authors, don’t overlook our Clue Awards division, perfect for works that blend mystery with darker elements.

Submit to the Shelley Awards before the June 30th deadline and join the ranks of professionally recognized horror and paranormal fiction.

Check back next week as we’ll be featuring several articles about outstanding paranormal fiction and the authors who master this challenging genre!

June 6, 2025
The 2025 Ozma Hall of Fame for the Best Fantasy Fiction

Is this Just Real Life, or is This Fantasy?

What do Legolas’ Elf Eyes see? Great Fantasy Books!

Legolas (Portrayed by Orlando Bloom) From Lord of The Rings

The Ozma Awards for Fantasy Fiction are a Division of Chanticleer Book Awards and help us find some amazing fantastical stories.

Fantasy fiction can be anything from High fantasy with elves and magic, to Alternative History, Steampunk, and Folk Legends.

Submissions Deadline for the OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction is June 30th, 2025.

**Send Us Your Story by the End of June**

If you’ve been looking for a Fantasy to read, try out some of our Award winners!

A Circle of Stars
By Erin Lark Maples

If you’re looking for a beach read with supernatural intrigue, A Circle of Stars by Erin Lark Maples will draw you in from page one. Ember “EJ” James, a newly-arrived stranger in the strange land of Prescott, AZ, immediately begins navigating unfamiliar territory, both physically and metaphysically.

Forty-something EJ doesn’t know it yet, but when she agreed to take over her deceased uncle Hollis’s shop in Prescott, she stumbled into a world of magical realism. The plant shop, as it turns out, is more than just that—it hides secret access to other realms, which supernatural beings will go to great lengths to access. Much like the plants in the shop, this tale is dark, tangled, and intriguing beyond belief.

Anyone else may have felt helpless. But EJ remains upbeat, charmingly self-deprecating, and resourceful to the end. There’s a great joy in seeing how she works through her new surroundings, unfazed by (almost) everything they throw her way.

Continue Reading Here!

A Vengeful Realm Book 1: The Scales of Balance
By Tim Facciola

The Scales of Balance opens with an amnesiac gladiator, a queen certain her husband must die for the sake of the kingdom, and a prince who will do anything to save his father. Tim Facciola’s first novel in the high fantasy series A Vengeful Realm is threaded through with plots of assassination and political intrigue, all fueled by a divine struggle for dominance.

A Vengeful Realm is a study in richness. Its characters, setting, and world-building, the vital elements for a strong fantasy, pull the reader into the land of New Rheynia where the most valuable currencies are loyalty and power.

Facciola excels at characterization, beginning with an engaging tapestry of backgrounds.

The gladiator Zephyrus’ first memories are in a temple hearing the words of a prophecy that he can’t understand. Depending on the interpretation, he could bring peace or destruction. His only guide is his iron morality, which he hopes is enough to bring him back to who he once was.

Continue Reading Here!

Soar a Burning Sky
By Steven Michael Beck

Earth is linked in a symbiotic relationship with its spirit twin, a hidden utopia called EonThera. But as the paradise begins to inherit the harsh realities of Earth’s drastic climate change, EonThera urges action – before both realms collapse, in Steven Michael Beck’s Soar a Burning Sky.

What if there was an “earthly paradise,” a mirror of Earth – a terratopia that is an awe-inspiring existential representation of how amazing planet Earth could be? This fantasy fiction presents a synergic relationship between Earth and this soul, as together they sustain the Ticking – a heartbeat that nurtures both. But as Clayton Cramer puts it, “Abandon all thoughts of Utopia – humans are involved.”

As a result of the two realms’ mutual existence, one’s failing health accounts for the fall of the other. The soul of Earth, EonThera, is collapsing. It is plain that the enemy is ignorance, primarily Earth’s, and with this knowledge comes the recruitment of the four unlikely Earthly warriors to aid the two realms before they fall from a burning sky.

Visit Steven Michael Beck’s website here for the latest updates!

Plague of Flies
By Laurel Anne Hill

Sixteen-year-old Catalina Delgado’s hopes of marrying her love are troubled by strange, unnatural dangers, in Laurel Anne Hill’s novel, Plague of Flies.

Like every dutiful daughter in 1846, Catalina worries about her reputation. However, she must also gain the approval of Ángelo Ortega’s family. Unfortunately, when three strangers ride onto her family’s small ranch in Alta California, she knows that more than her dreams are at risk. Alta California has just been invaded by the men of the Bear Flag, and Catalina fears what will become of her homeland now that it has been claimed by the Yankees. The nearby ranch owned by the valiant General Vallejo has been raided, owners and their servants terrorized and held captive. Plus Bear Flaggers have murdered additional friends of Catalina’s family on a beach.

Read More Here

Divinity’s Twilight: Rebirth
By Christopher Russell

Divinity’s Twilight: Rebirth by Christopher Russell is the opening of a High Fantasy epic about the rise and fall of vast empires.

The story grows from unfinished business between three brothers gifted with magic and power but chose different paths to achieve safety and security for themselves and the people who followed them.

These different paths culminated in a battle where the fate of their world is balanced precariously on a knife’s edge. Darmatus and Rabban are engaged in a war to the death with their oldest brother Sarcon. Sarcon believes the road to that safety lies in power alone, that the only way to be secure is to crush all his enemies, no matter how heinous the deeds required.

Read More Here

Remember to add your next reads to your StoryGraph or Goodreads account! Now that you’re set on your next five reads, what are you waiting for? The only way to join this amazing list of Ozma Winners is to submit today!

These Hall of Fame winners prove that exceptional fantasy comes from authors brave enough to explore magical realms, whether it’s EJ’s supernatural plant shop in modern Arizona or epic battles between godlike brothers. Each of these stories found their readership through the recognition and promotion that comes with Ozma Award achievement.

You know you want it…

Will your fantasy tale be next to join this prestigious lineup? From urban magic to high fantasy epics, the Ozma Awards celebrate every corner of the fantasy spectrum.

Don’t let your story remain hidden in an enchanted vault—submit to the Ozma Awards and join the ranks of celebrated fantasy authors who’ve found their audience through Chanticleer!

Currently accepting entries. Deadline: June 30, 2025

June 6, 2025
Chanticleer 10 Question Author Interview Series with Kathryn Caraway – Grand Prize Award-winning Author of Unfollow Me

CHANTICLEER 10 QUESTION AUTHOR INTERVIEW SERIES with Award-Winning Author, Kathryn Caraway

Hello friends, we have another fabulous interview for you today, with author Kathryn Caraway! Her book Unfollow Me took home the Chanticleer 2024 CIBA Grand Prize Award in the Journey Division and we were excited to learn more about what inspired her to write her true crime novel and what she’s planning next. Take a minute or two and get familiar with Kathryn and her incredible journey to becoming award-winning author!

Chanti: Hi Kathryn, and thank you for making the time for this. Let’s start with the basics. How would you describe the genre you write in, and what drew you to it in the first place?

Caraway: I write exclusively in the thriller genre. My dad loved reading Stephen King novels, but I wasn’t allowed. Instead, I snuck them off the bookshelf once he finished the book and read it at night under the covers with a flashlight. I became addicted to the pulse pounding, page turning, can’t-wait-to-read-the-next-chapter hallmarks of the thriller genre that drew me in as a reader and now, challenges me as a writer.

Chanti: Something feels so right about the image of sneakily reading Stephen King under the covers. Like King, your writing is deeply compelling. Can you talk about where you draw inspiration from for you ideas?

Caraway: Aside from the nonfiction and its companion fictional sequel, I create stories rooted in experience. After writing the first two books, I was so emotionally taxed that I wasn’t sure I would write again. But ideas came at random. For example, while driving down the interstate, a sign captured my attention and planted the seeds for my third book. Five months later, the first draft was written.

Chanti: Inspiration really can strike anywhere! When it comes to actually sitting down to write, how structured is your approach?

Caraway: Not structured at all, especially if I’m writing a first draft. If I need to think through a particular scene, I’ll do laundry. If I’m trying to figure out a plot point, I’ll clean the bathroom or do the dishes. I’m also easily distracted by my pup. I don’t pay attention to the technical elements of writing (character arc, story arc, etc.) during a first draft. I bounce between different parts of my manuscript so much that I once broke the wheel on my mouse!

Chanti: Ha! You definitely give your mouse and computer quite a workout! Speaking of influences, every writer has their literary heroes. Which authors do you turn to for inspiration, and how have they shaped your work?

Caraway:

Stephen King: You never forget the first book that wowed you and I always turn back to how I felt reading his books. This has been a big influence on me because I work hard to create those pulse pounding scenes that makes readers want to inhale the words and turn the page.

Karin Slaughter: I binged a series she wrote many years before I started writing. I fell in love with the way she framed scenes that felt real, like I was living in the book with her characters. And that’s what I strive for in my writing.

John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men was required reading when I was in school. We had to annotate each chapter as we read. I still have the original book which, for many years, was my go-to on the nightstand when I couldn’t sleep. His use of short chapters makes time spent reading feel irrelevant and the story moving forward at a quick pace. This is something I keep in mind when I’m organizing chapters, harnessing that tempo that will appeal to readers.

Marie Still: This is a newer author on the market that I had the good fortune to meet at a conference. She gifted me her book, We’re All Lying, and I devoured it. What captivated me was the way I connected with her main character because of my own life experiences. Since I was new at writing, I spent hours breaking down this character to understand the construction behind it. This is the experience I want to provide readers of Unfollow Me. While Marie’s character is fictional, I am the main character in Unfollow Me, so this meant I also had to get comfortable with revealing uncomfortable stuff to my readers.

Chanti: What a diverse group of influences! Every writer has their strengths. What aspect of writing do you feel most confident about, and what advice would you give to someone struggling in that same area?

Caraway: I feel the most confident in writing characters. I don’t really develop them until the second draft—once I have a big picture idea of their place in the story. One of the tricks I use is signs of the Zodiac. There’s so much information on each sign and the related personality that I give my characters birthdays. Before I write about them, I’ll read their horoscope and sometimes even get ideas from there. This method is especially helpful when I have multiple works in progress. If you’re struggling with a character, give them a birthday and read their horoscope!

Chanti: That’s a great idea! Do you have any other ways to work on your writing? How do you grow your author chops?

Caraway: Read, read, read! I read mostly in the thriller genre, but sometimes I need a break and will read something totally different. But it’s not just books you have to read, it’s reviews. To grow as an author, you have to understand your audience—what they want, what they’re looking for, what they’re turned off by. I’m not suggesting authors read their reviews, but I read the reviews of bestsellers in my genre to study the competition.

Chanti: Smart strategy for understanding your market! When you think about your ideal reader—the person who would absolutely love Unfollow Me—who comes to mind?

Caraway: Fans of true crime, as well as suspense/thriller fiction readers would be the best fit for my book. It is creative nonfiction which means it’s a true story written to read like fiction.

Chanti: The combination of true crime and thriller elements is certainly a natural one. What’s next on the horizon for you? What can your readers look forward to?

Caraway: Getting the Unfollow Me Duet out has been the sole focus on my daily activities. I have two other books fully written in draft form that I will eventually turn back to. Stay tuned!

Chanti: Exciting! Changing gears a little bit back to the mechanics of getting the work done—do you ever hit those dreaded writer’s block moments? And if so, what’s your secret for getting unstuck?

Caraway: Funny you should ask! The same question recently came up with a group of young writers in the Hey, Young Writers group.

Several years ago, when I first started writing, a friend of mine sent me an avatar that I named Pat/Patrick/Patricia. It’s framed and sits on my desk to represent my readers. When I get stuck, I think of what Pat/Patrick/Patricia might want to happen next and sometimes I even talk it out with the frame (yes, with an inanimate object). It doesn’t matter if it’s a silly idea because those often lead to the BEST ideas. The important thing I have to remind myself is not to force an idea to come. It always seems like when I push it from my mind, that’s when ideas on how to get unstuck hit me. Like, wham!

Chanti: I love the idea of having a reader avatar! Finally, writing can be emotionally intense work, especially given the nature of your stories. How do you unwind and recharge when you’re not writing?

Caraway: I am an avid scuba diver with quite a few dive certifications. I love to travel, dive, and experience new ecosystems. I love that when I’m underwater, nothing else in the world matters. And, of course, reading—especially on a rainy day.

If you would like to support Kathryn’s work, and get a pre-release copy of Unfollow Me and its sequel He Follows Me, her Kickstarter project is running through the end of June. Unfollow Me Duet Kickstarter

Kathryn Caraway has lived the life she now writes about. Targeted by a stalker, she’s traveled through the justice system seeking help, protection, and the conviction of the man who turned her world upside down. After he received only a short sentence for three separate charges, and added two probation violations to his record, Caraway chose to erase her presence from public view. She quit her job, changed her name, relocated, and deleted all her social media profiles, only to find out that he continued to violate the protective order by attempting to locate her.

To deal with the stress of the situation, Caraway turned to her education, a Bachelor of Arts in the English degree family, and began to write about her experience. She’s always been an avid reader and has been writing stories as a hobby since she was fourteen. With a new name, in a strange place and no job, writing her story quickly became her passion. In 2022, she wrote her true crime memoir, Unfollow Me, and later that year she followed it up with a fictional alternate ending to the same story. The thrill of writing plot twists with characters developed from her imagination became a thrill, and, after writing the first book, she created the pseudonym “Kathryn Caraway” and decided to venture down the dark, scary path of publishing.

June 6, 2025
Chanticleerians in the News: Lisa Llamrei Takes Her Ancient Egypt Expertise from Page to Passport

Chaucer Finalist Lisa Llamrei brings her book to life!

Readers will follow her characters’ footsteps through Egypt!

When your mission is to Discover Today’s Best Books, you love to come across good news regarding authors!

Lisa Llamrei, 2024 Chaucer Award Finalist, is combining her passion for Ancient Egypt with her travel expertise to lead an exclusive literary tour in March 2026!

The author behind Feather of Ma’at and Quest for Ma’at isn’t just writing about Nefertiti and Tutankhamun—she’s taking readers directly to their world. As both a travel agent specializing in Egypt and a novelist whose Ancient Egypt trilogy earned recognition in the Chanticleer International Book Awards, Llamrei has crafted a unique itinerary that brings her fiction to life.

“Egypt may be addictive,” warns Llamrei, who first fell in love with the land of pharaohs as a teenager. Her March 5-13, 2026 tour will visit off-the-beaten-path sites like Amarna (ancient Akhetaten, where Nefertiti ruled) and includes exclusive access to King Tut’s tomb—essential stops for readers of her novels.

This isn’t just any Egypt tour. Llamrei has curated experiences that directly connect to her award-winning historical fiction, allowing travelers to walk in the footsteps of the characters she brings to life on the page. From the temples and tombs featured in her books to the vibrant souks of Islamic Cairo, she’s sharing her decades-long love affair with Egypt.

With her second novel already released and the trilogy’s conclusion with her publisher, Llamrei is planning additional literary tours based on beloved novels like Shogun and The DaVinci Code.

You can read the full blogpost she put together describing the trip here!

Bookings are open, and space is limited!

Ready to join the ranks of award-winning authors like Lisa?

You know you want it…

Don’t miss out! Several Chanticleer International Book Award divisions have deadlines fast approaching. Whether you’re crafting historical fiction like Lisa’s Chaucer Award finalist Feather of Ma’at or working in any of our divisions, there’s still time to get your work recognized. Our awards provide the credibility and visibility that can transform a passion project into a professional platform—just ask Lisa, who’s now leading international tours based on her award-winning novels.

Submit your manuscript today before deadlines close!

June 5, 2025
The Ozma Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction First Place Round Up from 2024

The Ozma Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Fantasy Fiction. The Overall Grand Prize Winner, Erin Lark Maples’ book, A Circle of Stars will be promoted for years to come in our annual Hall of Fame article, as well as be featured on the Ozma contest page year ’round!

The best part about being a Chanticleer Int’l Book Award Winner is the love and attention you get all year ‘round!

The 2024 Ozma Winners were announced at the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference in April, and you can see the official winners post here!

Join us in celebrating the 2024 First Place Ozma Winners!

Curt Locklear – Treasure and Murder in Ireland

As Halloween draws close, Scrooge, Cratchit, and their newly married junior partner Sherlock “Lockie” Holmes, father of the great detective, are pulled into the complex murders of three Irishmen: a nobleman, a town mayor, and a pubkeeper. To Scrooge’s utter dismay, the three sail to Ireland, where they uncover biblical secrets and face a wide range of challenges and assailants. The trio is aided by two sharp female protagonists: one is an accomplished scientist, the other is developing martial arts skills. A crafty lawyer intends to seize the mines belonging to Lucy Holmes and her cousins, Abigail and Samuel Jiggins. An ancient cult is forming, and a young mastermind continues to plot in the shadows. Set during the horrendous Irish Potato Famine, Treasure and Murder in Ireland follows the trio as they struggle their way through dangerous circumstances, gathering clues and discovering magic does not always belong in myths.

Find it Locally and on Amazon!

Glen Dahlgren – The Realm of Gods

2024’s Dante Rossetti Grand Prize Winner!

In a realm where dreams and reality intertwine, the final battle brews.

The gods of Order have vanished. Despite priests like Dantess and Myra struggling to maintain peace, the Harbingers of Chaos fan the flames of rebellion, bringing the world to the brink of war.

Galen, drawn into the heart of the Dreaming—an ethereal realm where past, present, and future collide—confronts not only his nemesis, the cunning Carnaubas, but a horrifying truth: the exiled gods of Order still hunger for dominion.

Luckily, Galen is not alone. Eve, a young girl gifted with the uncanny ability to see the threads that connect everything, joins him on a desperate quest to find the elusive god of Chaos, their only hope for preventing Order’s return.

The Realm of Gods is more than just a story; it’s a descent into the battle between Order and Chaos, a testament to the enduring power of human connection, and a battle cry for rebellion against tyranny.

Join the heroes you love on their final, climatic dance between despair and hope, the last leg in an extraordinary journey that you’ll never forget.

Find it Locally and on Amazon!

Susan Wands – High Priestess and Empress

On her return to London, artist and seer Pamela Colman Smith discovers that her nemesis, Aleister Crowley, has returned—and his sights are set on her. Despite Aleister’s efforts to stop Pamela from further developing her tarot deck and accessing its magic, she carries on casting her High Priestess and Empress muses, Golden Dawn society leader Florence Farr and popular theatre star Ellen Terry. But when Ellen is poisoned and nearly killed, Pamela realizes that Aleister won’t stop coming for her—not until her muses are dead.

When Aleister reveals his plot to assassinate Queen Victoria and all female rulers, war breaks out between the Aleister’s Carlists and the Golden Dawn. With so many lives on the line—that of the queen, and those of her friends—Pamela must access her inner magic to face the battle of her life.

Find it Locally and on Amazon!

Prue Batten – The Red Thread

A red silk thread tied around one’s wrist by the God of Fate is immovable.

Destiny is immutable.

For Lien of the First House of Silk and Ming Xao, her Emperor, the woven silk thread on their wrists brings them to the very edge of death as they are hunted by the fey for a secret map they hold in their possession.

Find it Locally and on Amazon!

S.G. Blaise – Meddling Mages

Glenna’s heart sinks just as her boots sink in the mud, when she sees how horrid the planet Raghild is.

But there is no turning back now. She must forge onward to meet the despised charlatans, aka, mages—the only ones able to help her get rid of the corruption that’s killing her.

The sooner she finds the mages, the sooner she can rid herself of the deadly corruption, and of the pesky mage who somehow sneaked his way into her heart.

Find it on Amazon!

J.A. Neilsen – The Claiming

Spense is the unfortunate younger son of Lord Ferrous, with a growing talent for the magical arts and a larger talent for finding trouble, most often in the form of botched spells. Dewy is a Fae princess who tends to disappoint her aunt, the Summer Queen, through her—ahem—carefree life choices.

A chance encounter—and another botched spell—leaves Spense bonded to Dewy and able to control her will. But it’s a violation of magic. Not to mention devastating to Human-Fae relations.

To free Dewy and save Spense’s kingdom, they must journey through faerie territories—facing feral magic, treacherous wilderness, and their own distractible hearts. Unless that’s just the effect of The Claiming…

From Chanticleer:

The illegitimate son of a human king accidentally binds himself to a Fae princess in J.A. Nielsen’s YA adventure, The Claiming. As war bears down on the kingdom of Telridge, can the two of them break the spell in time?

Lord Ferrous, ruler of Telridge, smells conflict coming for his people. Even so, he denies a mysterious request from the king of the Winter Fae, and sets his sons to prepare their land for war. His eldest, Prince Dirk, gathers his knights and begins to evacuate the common people to the protection of Telridge castle. His younger son Spense, born out of wedlock to the castle’s head cook, uses his finicky magic to Claim a bridge over a powerful river. If he succeeds, the passing will be barred to their enemies. But he fails to realize that the powerful living force he encounters isn’t the bridge at all.

Dewy, crown princess of the Summer Fae, is Claimed instead of the bridge. Her aunt, Lady Radiant, must exile her from their lands. While Dewy’s careless spirit chafed under Radiant’s authority, she grieves for her lost home.

Read More Here!

Find it Locally and on Amazon!

Thank you for joining us to celebrate the 2024 Ozma First Place Winners!

Your book can join the Tiers of Achievement, but only if you submit to the Ozma Awards!

Got a great Fantasy?

The 2025 Ozma Book Awards are open through the end of June!

Submit to the Ozma Awards Today!

June 4, 2025
THE LAST RIVAL: A Time of Our Choosing by Kyle Palmer – Alternate History, Post-WWII, Action & Adventure

The Last Rival: A Time of Our Choosing by Kyle Palmer is a modern take on the mid-20^th century style of pulp-fiction, combining the genre’s brazen and entertaining storytelling with reflections on the deeper meaning behind all the action. This masculine romp through history dares to imagine the aftermath of World War II—in a slightly different world.

The story opens in Washington, DC, in 1946, through the eyes of a fictionalized “Wild Bill” Donovan. The real Wild Bill was an American soldier and intelligence officer, perhaps best-known for founding the CIA. Author Kyle Palmer deftly weaves such historic details into his fictionalized account of American history, offering readers a chance to learn as they come along for the ride.

From the machinations of government in Washington, DC, The Last Rival spirals into the wild resurgence of a World War II threat. The powers of the Third Reich haven’t truly been neutralized.

A highly skilled team gathers to shut down the power of the lingering Nazis, and it must be done in the greatest secrecy. The project brings together characters like rugged veteran Jim Bolden, his former commanding officer Jack Powell, and the formidable physicist (and unapologetic womanizer) Lew Weinman. This small group of hand-selected men is whisked away to rural Montana for training—where the story really ramps up.

As their mental and physical resolve is tested, personalities clash. But in the shadow of their common enemy, the men seem to unite as they learn more about what it will take to bring down this final threat.

With the training in Montana complete, they travel south, taking on a cross-border journey to their harrowing destination.

Along the way, Palmer brings up fascinating relics of the past, like “bat bombs,” incendiary devices strapped to hibernating live bats developed but never used during World War II. These strange-but-true historic details lend realism to a story that can veer toward the fantastical with the sheer bombast and undeterred strength of the main characters pushing past the realm of believable heroics.

As the men close in on their target, they tangle with growing trouble and excitement. They’re assisted by a short list of allies, including two women who’ve been biding their time in Nazi country until help could arrive. Readers meet many more such characters who add complexity to the story.

The Last Rival propels toward a climax of total action, complete with twisting loyalties.

In some ways, the book’s denouement is its most lingering element. No end is left untied; every character has a clear finale, happy or not. But rather than wrapping things up summarily, Palmer leaves his characters with a fascinating reflection on philosophy and religion, calling back to earlier moments in the book. It’s such thoughtful and surprising moments of insight that set Kyle Palmer’s The Last Rival apart from its simpler pulp-fiction predecessors.

June 4, 2025
Mike Murphey 10-Question Author Interview with Chanticleer – Humor, Thriller, Action, Staire

CHANTICLEER 10 QUESTION AUTHOR INTERVIEW SERIES
with Award-Winning Author, Mike Murphey

Hello friends! We have another interview with a fabulous, versatile author!

Mike Murphey took home the 2023 CIBA Grand Prize award in the Mark Twain Division for his novel, Quantum Consequences, the fifth book in the Tales of Physics, Lust and Greed series. Here, he tells us about his writing journey, how the series Physics, Lust and Greed came to be, and the subsequent heights it is now reaching! Take a minute to find out more about this talented humorist!

Chanti: Let’s start at the beginning, Mike. Tell us a little about yourself and how you first discovered you had this wonderful talent for satirical fiction.

Murphey: I suppose I’ve had a fascination with books from the time I learned to read. I loved getting lost in a story, which led me to write stories of my own. My understanding of the power of humor is rooted in Mr. Donald Dye’s ninth grade math class. Mr. Dye was a stealthy fellow adept at sneaking up on students who wrote notes in class rather than paying attention. He would either read the note to the class, or force the author to read it, whichever inflicted the most embarrassment. I’d been writing a story in study hall the previous hour and was on a roll, so I hid my story under my math book, sneaking in a few lines here and there, until a heavy hand reached out from nowhere and snatched up my prose. As I anticipated my punishment, I saw his expression drift from anger, to puzzlement, to the hint of a chuckle. He handed my back the paper and said, “Go ahead. This will get you further than math ever will.”

Chanti: That’s a great story, and Mr. Dye sounds like a wonderful teacher, too! You work in multiple genres, often combining them in your stories. How lead you to incorporate multiple genres—humor, action, sci-fi, thriller—into your novels?

Murphey: I am not a slave to genre, and my background as a journalist left me interested in a variety of topics to write about. My focus on science fiction was spurred by the work of Jack Williamson, a dean of science fiction at Eastern New Mexico University in the small town where I grew up. His granddaughter and I were the same age, and I knew her well. I was not a good physics student because I couldn’t master the math, but the romance of physics—time travel, Einstein’s relativity of time, quantum entanglement, Schoedinger’s cat—sparked my imagination. I also love baseball, so I wrote a baseball book, and I grew up in the 60’s and loved the music, so I wrote a book about The Chad Mitchell Trio and the 60’s folk music era. At this point, I would be bored if I was trapped by genre.

Chanti: Variety in genre definitely keeps things interesting! How does that carry over to your writing process, are you someone who likes to plan everything out meticulously, or do you prefer to let the story unfold as you write?

Murphey: This is the classic plotters vs. pantsers issue. For many years, what kept me from writing anything beyond short stories was the belief that when I began, I had to know how it would end. Outline the whole thing and then fill in the gaps. But my brain doesn’t work that way. When I finally decided to write a minimum of 500 words a day and see where that path would lead me, it all fell into place. The characters and their story show me where to go as the story progresses.

Chanti: I love that daily word count approach! Outside of writing, do you have hobbies or interests that feed into your storytelling or inform your work in some way?

Murphey: I am an old-man baseball player, one of thousands who defy the premise that people in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s have no business playing baseball rather than softball. My baseball novel The Conman… a Baseball Odyssey, is a fictionalized version of a friend’s convoluted journey through professional baseball, and my short story, Old Man Baseball, was a grand prize winner in Chanticleer’s short story competition. I also have a woodshop and enjoy making what we call Southwestern-style furniture—meaning the flaws are present to add a rustic authenticity.

Chanti: I remember Old Man Baseball and how much our readers loved it. Now, every writer has their strengths. What aspect of writing do you feel most confident about, and what advice would you give to someone who’s struggling in that same area?

Murphey: Dialogue. To write in different distinct voices, you must know your characters inside and out. Dialogue is much more important in establishing character than anything else. That’s my best advice. Know your principal characters as well as you know your best friend or your worst enemy.

Chanti: That’s excellent advice about really knowing your characters. Related tangentially to that, can you tell us about the authors whose work has really shaped your own?

Murphey: Mark Twain, Douglas Adams, Tom Robbins and Christopher Moore, because every time you pick up one of their books, you are engaged in a seminar on humor, satire, irony, and subtlety. And fifth, a New Mexico writer named Richard Bradford who wrote a book called Red Sky at Morning, a funny and poignant coming-of-age story that I read the summer I left my hometown in Eastern New Mexico and was separated from the girl with whom I thought I would share my destiny with. I determined then that if I was ever able to write a novel, I wanted to write like he did. That is where my first novel, Section Roads, came from.

Chanti: Writing is definitely a craft that requires constant growth. What do you do to keep developing and sharpening your skills as an author?

Murphey: I work with excellent editors. Three editors see my manuscripts. They all have different strengths, and they are the best teachers I have.

Chanti: Smart approach—having multiple sets of expert eyes on your work! Here’s something I always like to ask: What’s the most important thing a reader can do to support an author they enjoy?

Murphey: Besides reading your work in the first place, the most important way readers can support writers is to review their books on Amazon. The review can be as simple as “I really liked this.” Or “well, at least he tried.” The number of reviews a book gets increases the possibility that Amazon will pay attention to it.

Chanti: That’s such practical advice! Now, on a more personal note—what excites you most about the actual process of writing?

Murphey: Sitting down in the morning to find out what my characters have been up to.

Chanti: Short and sweet. As we wrap up, what are you working on now? What exciting projects can your readers look forward to seeing from you next?

Murphey: I’m writing a sixth book in my Tales of Physics, Lust and Greed series, but my principal focus has drifted toward screenwriting. I have three different collaborations in progress. One involves a short film for my short story Old Man Baseball, which was a Chanticleer grand prize winner. Another involves a streaming series for Section Roads, and a third involves the Tales of Physics, Lust and Greed series.

Mike Murphey, a native of eastern New Mexico, spent almost thirty years as an award-winning newspaper journalist in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Following his retirement from the newspaper business, he and his wife Nancy entered into a seventeen-year partnership with the late Dave Henderson, the all-star centerfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. Their company produces the A’s and Mariners adult baseball fantasy camps. They also have a partnership with the Roy Hobbs adult baseball organization to provide clubhouse services for major adult tournaments in Fort Myers, Florida. They live in Spokane, Washington, and Phoenix, Arizona, where Mike enjoys life as a writer and old-man baseball player.

June 3, 2025
The 2025 Ozma Book Awards Spotlight for Fantasy Fiction!
The Search for the Best Fantasy Fiction of 2025 is on!

The submissions for the 2025 Awards are well underway, and Ozma closes submissions at the end of June!

Fantasy isn’t just elves and magic—there are so many possibilities for a Fantasy tale, and we love that! From epic quests to urban magic, from steampunk adventures to mythical retellings, the Ozma Awards celebrate the boundless imagination that fantasy fiction offers.

Let’s Dive into the Categories!
- Magic, Heroes and Villains is the great variety of books that involve big archetypes and adventures like Six of Crows or The Fourth Wing.
- Coming of Age Fantasy typically looks at someone coming into their own, like Harry Potter discovering his magical heritage, but it can also be aimed at a younger audience. For YA Fantasy, check out the Dante Rossetti Awards, and for Middle Grade Fantasy, explore the Gertrude Warner Awards!
- Steampunk/Dieselpunk/Gaslight Fantasy are types of Alternative History and Counterculture. Steampunk features Victorian-era sci-fi or fantasy with an emphasis on steam-powered technology and historical fashions. Dieselpunk has more of an industrial Art Deco, Film Noir aesthetic with elements from the World Wars and Early Cold War—think Bioshock or Blade Runner.
- Modern and Urban Fantasy is exactly what it sounds like—Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files is a perfect example. Fantasy elements in realistic, contemporary settings.
- Myths and Legends and Fairy Tales feature classic Fantasy elements: fairies, King Arthur, folktale-type stories that have enchanted readers for generations.
- Fantasy – Classic is High Fantasy like Lord of the Rings—epic battles between good and evil in richly imagined worlds.
- Historical Fantasy is history with magic, where dark sorcerers move in ancient Viking battles or Nazis attempt to secure the Holy Grail.
Celebrating Our 2024 Grand Prize Winner!

After months of reviewing hundreds of entries, we are delighted to announce that Erin Lark Maples claimed the 2024 Ozma Grand Prize with her extraordinary novel A Circle of Stars! Throughout last year’s Ozma Book Awards, we’ve had the pleasure of promoting nearly 60 books as they advanced through our competition tiers.

Erin Lark Maples’s reluctant hero, compelling narrative, and richly layered world that exemplifies the innovative fantasy storytelling we seek to recognize. In addition to all the featured posts that have already gone out for the Ozma Awards, A Circle of Stars will be regularly promoted throughout the year on the Ozma Awards page and for the next five years in our upcoming Hall of Fame post. Erin Lark Maples will also be invited to participate in a Chanticleer 10-Question Interview, and you can read the Chanticleer Editorial Review for A Circle of Stars here!

Looking for Your Next Fantasy Read?

Check out some of these incredible books we’ve reviewed recently that showcase the amazing diversity of fantasy fiction!

DIOMEDES In KYPRIOS: Diomedia Series Book 2
By Gregory Michael Nixon

Gregory Michael Nixon’s Diomedes in Kyprios, book 2 in the Diomedeia Series, continues the adventures of the godlike yet all too human hero, Diomedes of Tiryns, as he seeks to discover a meaningful destiny in the chaos of the Bronze Age Collapse.

We begin after the fall of the Hittite Empire, four years after the destruction of Troy. He emerges from the dark river that runs through the underworld where the sacrifice of the Hittite Great King has just occurred, and he has rescued the Hittite Queen from certain death. Nearly drowned but still alive, he recalls only that he had vowed to reunite with the former Queen of the Hittites, the woman he loves named Lieia, at Paphos on the island of Kyprios (ancient Cyprus).

Lieia must undergo her own “odyssey” to get to Paphos to meet Diomedes. She depends on her band of protectors, but they pay for fare aboard a ship with evil men who cannot be trusted.

Read more here!

THE WINTER HEIR: Fractured Kingdoms Book 2
By J.A. Nielsen
Dante Rossetti First Place Winner

The Winter Heir, the second book in J.A. Nielsen’s Fractured Kingdoms series, picks up where the first book, The Claiming, leaves off—with its protagonists struggling under the weight of a vital bargain.

Lady Dew Drop, Dewy to her friends—and her frenemies—is languishing in the court of the Winter Fae, a summer princess nearly frozen in both heart and spirit as she does her best to fulfill the pact she made with the Winter King. Meanwhile, the man who got her into this mess, the human mage and illegitimate princeling of Telridge—Spence Ferrous—tries to fulfill the deal for her.

But the story is much bigger than these two young lovers. The Winter King is dying without a legitimate heir. And it’s his own proud, arrogant fault. As much as both the humans and the Summer Fae would be willing to let him suffer the consequences of his own actions—he’s not the only one who will.

Read more here!

SUMMER CYCLONE: Magic at Myers Beach Book 4
By Alan B. Gibson

The citizens of the three fairy kingdoms clash, forced to live shoulder-to-shoulder alongside ungoverned Outliers. In Summer Cyclone, fourth book of Alan B. Gibson’s Magic at Myers Beach series, unassuming tea-shop manager Stefán tries to find love while keeping all of fairy society from fracturing.

The three fairy kings, Theos, Zsombor, and Christophe, evacuate their people to Myers Beach. It’s only here that they have any chance of recreating fairy dust after their old sources had been poisoned, and saving every fairy life. They take in the Outliers, remnants of a fallen kingdom, and at first find good will between the groups. But with thousands of fairies moving in, they have to keep everyone on a short leash or else risk humans catching wind of their new neighbors. Resentment of these strange Outliers builds.

Stefán, a close confidant to Theos, struggles to keep anti-Outlier sentiment at bay with the help of some enigmatic and knowledgeable new friends. Rumors of him giving the Outliers special treatment grow stronger as some fairies begin to suspect that he’s actually one of them.

Read more here!

BOOK Of LEPRECHAUNS: The Lore Gatherers
By Jonathan Uffelman
Ozma First Place Winner

Three leprechauns, Molly, Shaun, and Dorker, have their lives turned upside down when a sinister figure returns to their peaceful village with greed and revenge on his mind. In Jonathan Uffelman’s middle-grade fantasy, Book of Leprechauns: The Lore Gatherers, they embark on a treacherous journey to recover their lost home.

Shaun McClanahan struggles to support his daughter Molly as she fails a crucial test for young Lore Gatherers—a subculture of Leprechauns who respect the power of stories. Though he’s weighed down by his responsibilities as the protector of his village’s communal gold stash, Shaun tries to overcome his worrying nature by trusting Molly to check on the gold by herself, hopeful that she can prove her worth to the village.

But when Molly follows her father’s magical instructions to the letter, she discovers with horror that the treasure is missing, save one ancient Roman coin.

Read more here!

These reviews represent just a glimpse of the fantastic worlds waiting to be discovered in today’s fantasy fiction.

See the Chanticleer Difference for Yourself!

We’re so excited about all the great books we receive every year for both the CIBAs and for our Editorial Reviews. The Chanticleer International Book Awards offers an incredible $30,000 in cash, prizes, and promotion across all divisions!

This is the journey from beginning to end for the CIBAs! Every list you make means more promotion for you and your work as each advancement tier is posted right here on our website, on our social media, and also out in our newsletter! Your book deserves to be discovered.

Don’t Let Your Tale Remain Untold!

Ozma Awards are due June 30, 2025!

The magic of storytelling lies in sharing your vision with the world. Whether your fantasy features dragons soaring over ancient kingdoms or witches working spells in modern cities, the Ozma Awards are your gateway to recognition and readership.

Fantasy has the power to transport readers beyond the mundane into realms of infinite possibility. Don’t let your story remain hidden in an enchanted vault—submit to the Ozma Awards today and join the ranks of celebrated fantasy authors who’ve found their audience through Chanticleer!

You know you want it…

Enter the Ozma Awards today!
June 2, 2025
ONE KISS by Michelle Ashton – Memoirs, Spirituality, Inspirational

One Kiss by Michelle Ashton is a poignant and emotionally unvarnished memoir of life through loss, healing, and the grim, lovely battle of being human.

One Kiss feels like a private journal—vulnerable, scattered at times, terribly real and sympathetic. Readers walk beside someone who’s still dealing with life’s challenges—working through heartbreak, trying to heal, stumbling, getting back up, and asking big questions she hasn’t yet found the answers to.

Much of this book circles around Ashton’s deep, complicated attachment to Noah, the man she calls “Adonis” and her “Twin Flame.” She relates with painful but relatable honesty how it feels like to wait, to hope, to wonder if you should hold on or walk away. Who hasn’t sat there refreshing their messages or praying for a sign that maybe this time things will turn out differently?

But One Kiss reveals far more than just romantic longing, as Ashton opens her everyday life to the reader.

She shares her love for her brother Seb, the joy she gets from her niece and nephew, and the little experiences that remind her she’s still fighting. One moment, she’s breaking down over a memory that haunts her or a silence that’s too loud, and in the next moment, she’s belting out songs in the car or laughing with the kids. That mix of grief and light feels so real because our complex lives rarely offer just one emotion when we struggle.

Ashton’s spiritual experiences thread through One Kiss.

She talks about seeing signs, feeling nudged by something bigger, and wondering if the universe (or angels or God) is trying to guide her. She never comes across like she’s trying to preach or claim some special wisdom, but rather attempting to make sense of her own experiences with touching authenticity.

Through her “One Kiss” project (which gives the book its name), Ashton wants to do something meaningful by helping survivors, protecting animals, and making the world a little less cruel. Even when she’s burned out or doubting herself, she keeps circling back to that powerful question: “How can I turn my pain into something useful?”

One Kiss foregoes a typical memoir structure, reading like a conversation over coffee as someone pours their heart out.

It rambles and loops back on itself at times, lending to its casual and personal tone. In the end, what may stick with the reader isn’t just Ashton’s heartbreak or her spiritual reflections, but her stubborn resilience. She’s learning, piece by piece, how to keep moving when everything feels stuck, how to keep loving even when it’s messy and painful, and how to slowly start building the life she wants to live.

Michelle Ashton’s One Kiss maintains its conversational and realistic style even when it becomes passionate or fragmentary, which complements the narrative since it welcomes readers to empathize with their own experiences. You will likely discover elements of yourself here from times when you’ve felt sad, lost, and weary. The text is not flawless, but healing is not either and that’s what makes it hit close to home.

June 2, 2025